Method and apparatus for developing prints



May 17, 1932. 5. M. DYE

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING PRI'NTS' Filed April 27 1927 2Sheets-Sheet G. M. DYE

May 17, 1932.

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING PRINTS Filed. April 27. 1927 2Sheets-Sheet Patented May 17, 1932 a UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE GLENM. DYE, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA METHOD N APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPINGramrs Application filed April 27, 1927. Serial N'o. 186,925.

This invention relates to a method and apfollowing description made inconnection paratu's for handling sensitized photographic with the.accompanying drawings, in which sheets such as prints or negatives, andpart-iclike reference characters refer to similar parts ul'arly tomethod and apparatus for developthroughout the several views and inwhich -ing prints or negatives. It is. desirable in Fig. 1 is a view inside elevation of the ap- 55 modern photographic developing and printparatus; ing establishment-s to have the prints or nega- Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same; tives HIOVG progressively through the variousFig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line stages of operation thereon.It is also desir- 3+3 of Fig. 1; as indicated by the arrows;

able to have the prints or negatives handled Fig. t is a. verticalsection taken on line so as quickly as possible and to have apparatus aof Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows; of great capacity. Fig. 5 is avertical section taken on line 5 It is an object of this invention,therefore, .of Fig. l, as indicated by the arrows; to provide a simpleand .eflicient developing Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of amodiapparatus comprising a receptacle in which fled form of thesubmerging roll; as, the prints are submerged and through which Fig. 7isa vertical section taken on line 7 7 they progress until properlydeveloped. of Fig. 6, as indicated by the arrows;

It is also an object of the invention to pro- Fig. 8 is a partialsection similar to Fig.

vide a developing apparatus having means shown in the modification; and

for submerging the prints in the developing Fig. 9 is a perspective viewof the bottom liquid, and means for progressing the prints member forthe developer receptacle. in said liqui'db-y the movement of saidliquid. Referring to the drawings a device, is

It is a further object of the invention to shown having a framecomprising the leg provide a method of handling prints or sensimembers15 illustrated as of right-angular tized she ets,--Which consistsinsubmerging the shape in cross section, at the upper ends of same inthe developing liquid and p-rogreswhich is supported the tray orreceptacle l6. sively advancing the same therein without While thereceptacle 16- may .be of various hand-lingorengaging theprintsin saidliquid. shapes, in the embodiment .of the invention It is another objectof the invention to proillustrated it is shown .as substantially recvidea device for handling sensitized .sheets tangular. Angle members l5aextend v.be- 30 comprising a print conveyor, areceptacle contween thepairs of end legs 15 ,on which .a

tai-ningdeveloping liquid to which said conh lf 15b i ad t d t gg id hlf pxveyor delivers the sheets, with means for subtending between saidmembers 15m Other merging-the sheets in the liquidin saidrecepanglemembers 150 also extend between the mole. I end pairs of legs 15 ateachside of the frame Itis still another object of the invention to above thmembers 15a, whi h members 150 provide ade-vice such as set forth in theprcsupport the transversely extending shelf 15d .ceding paragraph, inwhich the submerged t di th b t Th b tt f th sheets are advanced in saidliquid without beregepmcle 16 i id d ith a pl rality 4e ing touched orengaged by any advancing f l if di ll t ding upstanding par lneansallelribs 16a. The receptacle 16 has a trough It isstilla further object ofthe invention 16? beneath one end thereof and holes, 160 to provide amethod and apparatus. .for hanxtend through the bottom'of receptacle 16dling sensitized photographicsheets,havinga between the ribs 16a intothe trough 16]).

' receptacle-in which a treating solution is con- Another trough 16dextends transversely betained, said solution being caused to flow ,neaththe otherend of receptacle 16 an Said through said receptacle and'tocarry-the sheets receptacle has holes 166 between the ribs 16atherewith. extending through the bottom thereof into 'llreseand otherobjects and advantages of said trough. The troughs 161) and 16d have 50the invention will be fully .set forth in the outlet spouts 16 and 169respectively at the thereof.

inner sides thereof and substantially at transverse centers thereof. Atube or hose 17 is connected to the spout 16; at one end by a suitableclamp 17a and is connected at its other end to the inlet of the pump 18,said tube having clamps 17a thereon for connecting it to said spout andpump. Another tube or hose 19 is connected at one end to the spout 16gand at its other end to the outlet conduit of the pump 18, said tube 19also being. connected by clamps 17 a. The pump l8 is bolted to the shelfdand is provided with a driving pulley 18a at one side Bearing plates 20are secured to each side of receptacle 16 having central open-endedslots 20a at their upper sides and a submerging roll 21 is disposedacross the tank or receptacle 16 adjacent one end thereof, havingtrunnion bearings 21a disposed in the slots 20a and resting in thebottom of said slots. One of the trunnions 21a is prolonged and hassecured thereto a belt pulley 22. The roll 21 has longitudinallyextending corrugations 216 formed in the surface thereof. A framecomprising parallel side members 23 extends from one end of receptacle16, said side members 23 being illustrated as in the form of platesdisposed in the same planes as the sides of receptacle 16. Shafts 24 arejournaled in the plates 23 adjacent the ends thereof and extendtherebetween, said shafts carrying rollers 25 over which run a pluralityof comparatively narrow parallel endless fabric belts 26. A bar 27 issecured to the sides of plates 23 and extends transversely beneath thesame, said bar having spaced u standing pins 28 secured theretoillustrated as cylindrical in form, which are disposed between the lowerruns of belts 26. The shaft 24 adjacent the receptacle or tray 16 isprolonged at one side and has secured thereto a belt pulley 29. A roller30 extends between the lates 23 between one end of the belts 26 anreceptacle 16 and has trunnions journaled in the plates 23. As showninFig. 4, the roller 30 has its top disposed a short distance below theupper runs of the belts 26 and a short distance above the edge of thefront of tray 16. One of said trunnions is prolonged and has securedthereto a belt pulley 31. Bearings 32 are secured to the members 15a inwhich is journaled a ack shaft 33. This shaft has secured thereto adriving pulley 34 adapted to be driven by a belt 35 running thereover,and also running over a pulley 36 secured to the shaft of a. motor 37illustrated as of electrical type. The shaft 33 also carries a pulley 38over which runs a belt 39. said belt also running over and driving thepulley 18a on 1 pump 18. The shaft 33 also carries a small pulley 40having a belt 41 running thereover, which belt also runs over the pulley29. Another small pulley 42 is secured to shaft 33 having a belt 43running thereover, which belt also runs over the pulley 29 and acomparatively small pulley 44, said latter pulley being journaled on ashaft 45 carried in a bracket 46 having an elongated slot 46a thereinthrough which passes a bolt 47 securing said bracket in a channel formedin a bracket 48 secured to the bottom of 'receptacle 16 and upstandingat one side thereof.

In Figs. 6 and 7 another form of submerging roller 21 is shown,comprisin end disks 50 secured adjacent each end of tlie shaft 51. Saiddisks 50 have rods 52 secured thereto, said rods having their ends bentsubstantially at right angles and extending across the outer ends ofdisks 50 radially of shaft 51, and being secured to said disks by anysuitable means such as spot-welding. It will be noted that the bends orcorners of the rods 52 are disposed some distance outwardly of the edgesof the disks 50.

In Fig. 8 a modified form of the receptacle 53 is provided which maytake the place of receptacle 16, said receptacle 53 having transversecorrugations 53a formed in its bottom, the same being of ratchet shapehaving vertical ends 536 and inclining downwardly between said ends,said receptacle, like receptacle 16, being provided with a transverselyextending trough 150 at one end having the spout 53d therein, saidtrough communicating with the receptacle 53 through the holes 536.

In Fig. 9 a member 54 is shown comprising end bars 54a having securedtherein and extending therebetween the parallel rods 54b. The member 54is adapted to be used in a receptacle similar to receptacle 16 buthaving a plain flat bottom.

In operation the parts will be arranged as shown and described and themember 46 will be adjusted so that belt 43 will engage the bottom ofpulley 22 when the trunnions 21a rest in the bottoms of slots 20a inbearings 20. The shaft 33 will be driven by the motor 37 and the roll 21as well as the rolls 25 and 30 will thus be rotated, the roll 21 beingrotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The rollers25 will be rotated so as to progress the top runs of the belts 26 towardthe receptacle 16 as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. \Vhen the machineis used to develop prints, the prints will be placed by the operativeson the belts 26 and will be carried toward receptacle 16. over the endsof the belts 26 over roller 25, they will tip downward into contact withthe roller 30. This roller is driven at comparatively high speed and theprints are given a quick impetus forward by frictional engagement withsaid roller. The prints are thus directed downwardly into receptacle 16and come beneath the submerging roller 2]. The surface of this roller ismade corrugated, so that the prints cannot come into flat or As theprints pass l I ference from the ribs.

close contact therewith and adhere to the 'wise of receptacle 16 by thedeveloping liquid moving lengthwise therein. It will be seen that themovement of roll 21 will assist the movement of the liquidlongitudinally of said receptacle. The movement is determined so thatthe prints move at such speed that those requiring the most developmentwill be fully developed before reaching the end of receptacle 16. Theprints are usually deposited face up and their development can beWatched by the operative who is stationed at the side of the machine andwhen the proper degree of development is reached, the prints can belifted from the receptacle and placed into a tray which usually willcontain 'a short-stop solution. The ribs 16a are provided in the bottomof receptacle 16 so that the prints cannot come into close contact withthe bottom of the receptacle where difiiculty would be experienced ingetting hold of the same. .T hey are easily picked up from the ribs 16aas the operators fingers can enter between the ribs and easily get underthe edge of the print. The prints can thus be very quickly lifted fromthe receptacle and this i s important, as the print might beoverdeveloped or darkened if it were necessary to make several attemptsto get hold of it. The prints being progressively moved through the tray16, the development thereof is definitely related to and indicated bythe position of the prints in said tray.

The roller shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be substituted for the roll 21.This roll will be readily seen is of openwork or cagelike form and actsquite efiiciently to engage and submerge the prints without theformation of bubbles. The prints also cannotstick to the roll.

The receptacle 53 shown in Fig. 8 may be used in place of receptacle 16.It will be noted that with the ribs 53a shown in this form, that theliquid can move rearwardly in said receptacle but will not readily moveforwardly. The prints can also move rearwardly over the ribs 53a withoutany inter At the same time the operator can readily lift the prints fromthe bottom of the receptacle, as the ends of his fingers can reach underthe prints between the ribs. The ribs, of course, will be of smallerwidth than the smallest dimension of the prints.

\Vhen the device shown in Fig. 9 is used,

the receptacle 16 will have a plain flat bottom. The prints cannot sinklower than the rods and will be supported thereon if they sink. Theoperator can readily lift the rints b 1 insertin his fin ers betweenthe: b b

rods 54?) and beneath the prints.

From the above description it will be seen that applicant has provided asimple and cilicient method and apparatus for treating sensitized sheetssuch as photographic prints. The prints are automatically delivered tothe developing liquid in position to be effectively submerged. Thesubmerged prints are progressed at suitable speed longitudinally of thedeveloping tray. The operator there- 1 fore merely watches the prints asthey travel through the tray or receptacle 16 and picks the same out ofsaid receptacle when they have reached the requisite degree of development. Some of the prints will, of course, travel further in thereceptacle than others before being lifted out. The prints are gentlyand effectively moved without any mechanical means engaging the same.The prints are easily lifted out of the receptacle 16 as they do notengage the bottom thereof with their entire surface. The machine isquite simple in construction, compact and easily made and assembled. Itis obvious that the method and apparatus will have a high degree ofutility for the purpose intended.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the apparatus and inthe steps and sequence of steps of the method, without departing fromthe scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in amethod and apparatus capable of carrying out the objects above setforth, such as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. An apparatus for treating sensitized photographicsheets having in combination, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid fortreating sensitized photographic sheets, a submerging means adjacent oneend of said receptacle, means for delivering sheets to said receptacleat said end, and an accelerating means for receiving prints from saidlast mentioned means and for directing said sheets into said receptacletoward 531d subm-erging means.

2. An apparatus for treating sensitized photographic sheets having incombination, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid for treatingsensitized photographic sheets, a submerging means adjacent one end ofsaid receptacle, an endless conveyor for delivering sheets to saidreceptacle at said end, and an accelerating means for directing saidsheets into said receptacle toward said submerging means, saidaccelerating means comprising a roller disposed at one end of saidconveyor with its top surface slightly below the same and adjacent oneend of said receptacle.

3. A print developing apparatus having in combination, a frame, a rollerjournaled adjacent one end of said frame, an endless conveyor having oneend thereof running over said roller for moving prints toward the sameand delivering prints therefrom, a smaller roller disposed parallel tosaid roller at one end of said conveyor with its top sur face below thetop surface of said conveyor for engaging and moving said deliveredprints, a receptacle adjacent said last mentioned roller having its endsubstantially parallel thereto and a short distance below the top ofsaid last mentioned roller, said receptacle being adapted to contain aprint treating liquid.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, and a revoluble submerging memberof substantially cylindrical form having spaced peripheral portionsadjacent said end of said receptacle having its lower side extendinginto the liquid in said receptacle.

5. An apparatus for treating sensitized photographic sheets having incombination, a receptacle adapted to contain l1qu'd for treatingsensitized photographic sheets, means adjacent one end of saidreceptacle for conveying said sheets towards said receptacle and anaccelerating means between said first mentioned means and saidreceptacle adapted to direct said sheets into said receptacle.

6. An apparatus for treating sensitized photographic sheets having incombination, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid for treating saidsensitized photographic sheets and through which said liquid and sheetsmay move together to advance from one portion of said receptacle to aremote portion thereof, and a single means for positively submergingprints in said liquid and for moving said liquid and sheets through saidr eceptacle in the same direction, whereby said sheet may be placed insaid liquid and receptacle at one point and removed at a distant pointwhen sufiiciently treated.

7. An apparatus for treating sensitized photographic sheets having incombination, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid for treatingsensitized photographic sheets and through which said liquid and sheetsmay be moved together to progress from one portion of said receptacle toanother portion, and means bodily located at one point for submergingsaid sheets in said liquid at said first mentioned portion, and forprogressing said sheets and liquid together in said receptacle andlengthwise thereof, whereby said sheets may be'placed in said receptacleat one point and removed at another point when sufliciently treated.

8. A method of developing photographic prints which consists in placingsaid prints face upwards at one point in a receptacle containingdeveloping liquid, positively submerging said prints adjacent said pointand progressively movin said prints in said receptacle by moving t eliquid in the said receptacle.

9. An apparatus for developing photographic prints having incombination, a receptacle adapted to contain developing liquid, meansfor positively submerging prints in said liquid and for producing anupper moving body of liquid from one end of said receptacle to the otherto move said prints and liquid together therethrough, and for producingan oppositely moving return body of liquid, and means for separatingsaid bodies of liquid whereby the liquid is circulated to continuouslymove from one end of said receptacle to the other and carry a print fromone end of said receptacle to the other.

10. An apparatus for developing separate photographic prints having incombination, a receptacle containing liquid and constructed and arrangedto have said liquid moved in one direction therein in a continuouscirculation throughout the length of said receptacle, means fordelivering prints to one end of said receptacle, and mechanical meansfor engaging said liquid in said receptacle for causing said liquid tocarry said prints lengthwise of said receptacle.

11. An apparatus for developing separate photographic prints having incombination, a receptacle containing liquid and constructed and arrangedto have said liquid moved in one direction therein in a continuouscirculation lengthwise of said receptacle, means for delivering printsat one point in said receptacle and rota-r means adjacent said point forengaging said prints delivered to said receptacle, submerging the samein said liquid, and for moving said liquid lengthwise of said receptaclefor carrying the prints with said liquid lengthwise of said receptacle.

12. A method of developing photographic prints which consists indelivering prints at one point in a receptacle containing liquid,positively depressing said prints in said liquid adjacent said point,and causing a movement of the body of said liquid in said receptaclelengthwise of said receptacle by circulating said liquid to carry saidsubmerged prints lengthwise of said receptacle.

13. An apparatus for treating separate sensitized photographic sheetshaving in combination, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid, andconstructed and arranged to have said liquid moved throughout the lengththereof in one direction in a continuous circulation, means fordelivering prints adjacent one point in said receptacle, and a memberadjacent said point for submerging said prints in said liquid and bodilymoving the liquid in said receptacle uniformly in one directionthroughout the length of said receptacle to carry the prints throughoutthe length of said receptacle.

14. A submerging means for sensitized I photographic sheets comprising arevoluble member having a plurality of means disposed substantially inthe surface of a cylinder, said means extending longitudinally of saidcylinder and having circumferential spaces therebetween and below a linejoining the same, said means acting to engage said prints and press thesame into a liquid.

15. A print treating apparatus having in combination, a receptacleadapted to contain 16 a print treating liquid, a driven revoluble memberhaving a print engaging and submerging periphery and having trunnions ateach end, a belt pulley secured to one of said trunnions, a belt onwhich said pulley rests 20 for rotating the same and said member, and

bearings secured to each side of said receptacle having open upperportions in which said trunnions rest, whereby said trunnions and pulleyare vertically removable from said bearings.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GLEN M. DYE.

